Putin: European leaders use the issue of a war with Russia to cover up their low approval ratings

 Russian President Vladimir Putin accused European leaders on Friday of resorting to talk of a possible war with Moscow to halt their declining popularity.

"They are simply trying to save their falling ratings, covering up errors in economic and social policy," he stated.

The leader identified NATO expansion and the willingness of European leaders to engage in military confrontation as the primary threats posed by Russia.

 He maintained that the Alliance is expanding into other regions of the world and that some leaders on the continent openly state they are preparing for war with the Eurasian nation.

Putin added that this strategy "does not work" and "does not help." He emphasized that, instead of "stopping" and listening to their citizens, these politicians "continue to fuel" tensions. In this context, he stated that the European leadership is exploiting the situation in Ukraine—and the Ukrainians themselves—using them as "cannon fodder."